Let me assure you, I don't care what Forbes says... anyone hitting me up for car funding - especially in such a crass way - isn't so much getting car money as a relationship re-evaluation, and I don't think they'll like the end result. No extra car funding, and one less friend to hit up in the future.

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What part of v_e = \sqrt{\frac{2GM}{r}} don't you understand? It's only rocket science!

"The problem with re-examining your brilliant ideas is that more often than not, you discover they are the intellectual equivalent of saying, 'Hold my beer and watch this!'" - Cindy Couture

Most Popular Car Part on the registries - nuts and bolts. I love this.

"Hey, Honey! Happy Birthday! We were going to give you a $100 cheque, but then we saw the registry and we thought you'd appreciate a donation instead. So we bought you a $1 bolt! Hope you have an awesome day!"

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You are only young once. After that you have to think up some other excuse.

Wow this seems like a new gimme low. I understand people wanting a new car and such but if really feels wrong to register for one. But then again I never did want to register and only did one since my MIL wouldn't take 'no thanks' as an answer.

I want to register for a Ferrari!!!! And when I only get 0.001% of the total cost put into my registry, do you suppose the car manufacturer will let me get it back in cash? Probably not. I'll probably have to pony up the other several hundred thousand dollars and buy the car.

I'm already married but do you think I could do this for a vow renewal or something? Orrrrr. My 40th birthday is soon. Well, not soon. It's more like in Autumn. But hey, 40 IS a milestone. So maybe I should start celebrating early...

Hey, here's an idea. I'm going to look for a second-hand car that I can afford instead. Call me crazy.

I want to register for a Ferrari!!!! And when I only get 0.001% of the total cost put into my registry, do you suppose the car manufacturer will let me get it back in cash? Probably not. I'll probably have to pony up the other several hundred thousand dollars and buy the car.

Actually they do give you the cash. Well, at least the Dodge Dart registry does. In fact, even if you raise 100%, what you really get is a check. Less a 5% commission fee and a 4% payment processing fee, of course.

I checked out that website. It looks like people are registering and begging strangers for a new car. I did not see any wedding couples. The most I saw someone get was $30. You can get a good laugh reading the stories of begging.

As with anything else, I don't see this registry as particularly egregious. As long as it's handled properly (that is, as long as it's only offered to people who specifically ask for gift ideas) it's no worse than a registry for china. Registries can be used to commit faux pas but used properly a car registry isn't intrinsically rude.

To me this speaks more of a problem that young people today haven't been taught how to save money. When I was in my teens and early 20's I was saving for a car. When asked what I wanted at gift times I wasn't shy to say I was saving for a car, and my parents let people know I was saving for a car. And for many birthdays, X-mas's and graduation I received cash or checks as gifts "for" my car fund. And they all got saved, until I could buy a car.

A car registry isn't all that different, except instead of the individual having the discipline to see that rising bank account balance and not withdraw the cash - for dinner out, for a concert, for a ski trip - its held in the registry which charges the recipient a fee for keeping the money non-withdrawable until it reaches a certain goal amount.

I think this speaks about our current economic situation as a whole, our culture of having the latest and greatest devices and products, of changing our wardrobes every year, and discarding perfectly good phones for no reason other then a shinier one came out, of living beyond our means, charging impulses we'll pay for 'later', etc. People just don't save and wait anymore.